View Photo Gallery As anyone who’s not living under a rock knows, tensions between the United States and Russia are high right now. The former Soviet Union has aggressively annexed the Crimea region of Ukraine, and the world isn’t taking it lightly.

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As anyone who’s not living under a rock knows, tensions between the United States and Russia are high right now. The former Soviet Union has aggressively annexed the Crimea region of Ukraine, and the world isn’t taking it lightly. American President Barack Obama has imposed sanctions on Vladimir Putin and his nation, but the Russians are literally laughing them off.

Top Putin advisor, Vladislav Surkov, had this to say when he learned of the sanctions:

“The only things that interest me in the U.S. are Tupac Shakur, Allen Ginsberg and Jackson Pollock. I don’t need a visa to access their work. I lose nothing.”

Even though the underlying situation is fairly serious, we have to admit, that quote is hilarious and amazing. 2Pac is relevant to a world leader in Moscow—who hates America! This isn’t the first time an anecdote like this has caught our attention. There are a few World Leaders Who Hate America But Love Its Pop Culture, past and present. Some of them will shock you.